If you aren’t working this weekend, or even if you are, chances are you’ll waste some of your hard-earned on something you’ll wish you hadn’t. It’s not very optimistic is it? Don’t worry, it’s not a reflection on you personally, happens to everyone not just grumpy old guys in fedora hats*. It’s a sign of the times. It was simply a piece of crap…
Feel free to share your most frustrating crappy purchases, expensive attempts at saving the trees, the whales or anything else well-meaning, or alternatively, that one item you bought at a discount store that still works really well, always did, and now you want another and can’t find it anywhere.
*Did you know that the fedora hat was a symbol adopted and worn by American Women’s Rights movement in the late 1880’s? I didn’t.
Haven’t had a crappy purchase in awhile, I always buy quality stuff, but I’ve had quite a few purchases where I got it and it didn’t quite do what I wanted it to do.
Because most of them are from overseas, I never send them back as the cost doesn’t make it worthwhile.
I remember despairing when seeing a documentary on the guy who became a billionaire from coming up with the idea of those silly rubber bracelets that charities seemed to be pushing all over the place for a while.
Here’s one way of dealing with the nonsense that is consumerism or is he buying into it?
“During the week, he wandered down in his pajamas to have coffee with the employees as they arrived; after hours, and on weekends, he had the whole space to himself. He slept on plastic crates in a breezeway; his minimal possessions included a silver candlestick and a peach-colored satin vest from Japan. “A lot of things you think you need, you don’t,” he said. “I learned all I really need is a bed, a table, nice friends and something to eat.”
He stayed for more than a year, and things began to look up. “It was winter,” he said, “and I went outside. I said, ‘World, I’m immortal. I’ll always exist. But you only exist because I see you. If you don’t give me anything, I won’t give you anything.’ ”
When Ecuador granted asylum to Assange in mid-2012, the Sydney Morning Herald’s Peter Hartcher accused Assange of “hypocrisy” for accepting asylum from President Rafael Correa, “one of the world’s leading oppressors of free speech”.
Annabel Crabb joined in, writing in the SMH: “A gazillion Assange Twitter fans [hailed] Ecuador and its president, Rafael Correa, as a hero of international free speech and human rights. Correa is the same guy who last year jailed a journalist and three executives from the newspaper El Universal [sic] for saying nasty things about him …[and] is expected to soon extradite the Belorussian anti-corruption campaigner Alexander Barankov to a messy fate in his country of birth … Ecuador: champion of free speech. The mind boggles.”
The only factual errors in Crabb’s rant are that Barankov was never extradited (but granted asylum), the journalist and executives mentioned were never jailed and the newspaper is not called El Universal!
It might read like a snide put-down of poorer nations that are somehow less capable of “democracy”, but all SMH did was read from an extensive, Washington-penned playbook on how to denounce the Latin American left.
The El Universo Case
The US press had been practising their denunciations of late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez’s so-called “dictatorship” in Venezuela for years before turning their attention to Correa. After granting Assange asylum, Correa went to the top of the hit-list.
The Washington Post, New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, The Economist, and Time each ran nearly identical articles on Correa’s supposed repression of free media.
And each placed the same victim at centre-stage: El Universo.
The saga stems from an article published by El Universo on February 5, 2011, written by Emilio Palacio and titled “No to the Lies”. The paper was then sued for libel by Correa.
The article gave Palacio’s account of the dramatic events on September 30, 2010, when Correa was held hostage by rebellious police inside a military hospital for nine hours. ……
The reality? The new law mandates that corporate media be reduced to a third of the market. Public media will make up one-third and non-profit, community media will make up the other third. This means the media will no longer be almost totally dominated by corporate interests and popular sectors will gain previously closed-off access to the media via community outlets.
Now that’s an interesting way to do it and I can see why the corporates are screaming blue murder about it. It’s taken any possible dominance of the narrative away from them.
I put it to a science man that there is no present. There is a past and a future but at this moment we are already moving into the past. He started to give me his opinion but we were interrupted and of course the moment was lost as it shot into the past. Wonder if Philomena could find out if there is a present?
Have a read of some awards handed out to UK businesses… and as you read maybe think about the recent announcement of investor backed programmes for getting those with mental illness into work… and why any society would be lading such behaviour unless they seek to perpetuate it.
Highly predictable decision by the High Court to set aside the original resource consents causing an immediate halt to the one wharf construction now in progress through the shonky POA/Council “compromise” deal.
Who on earth was giving legal advice to Council that this could proceed non-notified? Council needs to get new lawyers. $500,000 down the drain on this case alone-I wonder how many dollars have been wasted by these lawyers in other futile legal cases?
J A Farmer QC, D A Nolan, M R Crotty and K M Dunn for
Second Respondent (POA)
Jim ($1000 per hour) Farmer
and Russell McVeagh
Nothing but the most expensive for the POA…
Russell MCveagh are the biggest and most expensive but not to be mistaken for the best. Remember them in the stoush with IRD over the shonky bloodstock and fllm deals? They will spend your money trying to argue what you want them to though.
Council paid
A R Galbraith QC,
A M Adams and J C Campbell for First
Respondent
Yep, I remember the bloodstock deals, lots of lawyers also lost out on that one. Another dodgy Russell McVeagh deal.
Yep, thanks Auckland Council dimwits – I’m so pleased my rates are going up, so I can pay expensive lawyers to defend ports of Auckland stealing our harbour.
Next time they say we can’t afford pools or libraries, remember where the rates are really going. Environmental barristers of course! Just a wink and a nudge to the COO and resource consent officers and the consents just fly through!
exactly… 2 high paid QC’s plus their overpaid law firms… no change out of half a million is my guess… needs a LGOIMA on council, i doubt the POA will have to disclose other than as part of their overall yearly legal spend.
Someone should do a thorough LGOIMA search and include the CEO, councillors, resource consent officers and related barristers.
Remember what the OIA revealed on the human rights department with Susan Devoy being instructed not to answer the phone. Big Brother.
God knows what these council and related resource consents people are up to with our ratepayer money.
Not legal by the ruling anyway, but anyone with a brain cell should have worked that out.
The scary thing, is the Ports of Auckland and the Council only got caught out, because an action group paid a lot of money to oppose it, councillors were being silenced, people being bullied, and what is happening in our city, where their is not the publicity and money available?
Not even a 500 year old Kauri or a public asset like our wharf is safe from these privatisers.
The Council CEO and Mayor should be taken over the coals for this one, and yes there should be a request for how much litigation on resource consents is going on especially in Auckland, because the council resource consent officers are approving practically EVERY consent, and also the ratepayers are being forced to pay council lawyers hundreds of thousands of dollars of ratepayers money for the council to defend consents from the affected public (who at great expense are needlessly forced into the fray when some stupid council decision affects them is granted) which should never have been granted in the first place.
Someone should check what a ‘growth’ industry this is, for those environmental barristers creaming the teat of rate payer money to defend bad decisions of the council.
The fact the mayor and CEO seems to believe that the resource consent officers acted appropriately against any logical conclusion that the average rate payer could have foreseen, shows how stupid and out of touch they are.
And the fact that the CEO has lost control of ports of Auckland who they own shows just how out of kilter Ports of Auckland board is, with such a pathetic governance to them and how greedy and stupid they all are.
Next time you pay your rates think how much of this went on the council lawyers and how they probably will not even fire anyone in the resource consents department who’s job this clearly was or anyone from the ports of Auckland Board, and how the council seems to be encouraging stupid consents and destroying Auckland amenity as well as enriching themselves in the process.
Of course another big question is Will ports of Auckland continue to waste Ratepayers money by pursuing this. and can Auckland Council actually do it’s job and control Ports of Auckland on something clearly extremely unpopular to Auckland Rate payers?
mind you then there is Mike Lee single handedly preventing the waterfront stadium and sentencing aucklanders to underwriting eden park for another 20 years.
Well we all know the government wants us back in the 1900’s now we know Auckland Council wants the ratepayers in the poor house as part of the 1900’s industrial revolution.
I’m looking forward for Coal to make a come back in our streets.
Horse and carts can replace public transport, or maybe Browns idea of going to Michael Bloomberg and begging for funds for our transport…. note to Len, not only is that is what YOU and the council is paid for to provide public transport, an our rates could be spent on this, not defending stupid illegal council decisions.
It seems, like Murray’s, Saudi’s sheep exports, the idea is not to provide for ourselves but to bribe some overseas person to ‘solve’ our problems all turning to custard of course and getting nothing done.
Maybe the right wingers should take self sufficiency and self reliance a bit more seriously, they have no problem telling the poor how to do it.
“Uncle Tom? Hello?”:
Shouting Woman Interrupts Don Lemon in Charleston
As CNN’s John Berman and Don Lemon reported live earlier today in Charleston on last night’s shooting, a woman interrupted the broadcast to set a few things straight. “We’re mad! We’re angry! Tell the truth!” she said as Berman launched into a report about the heartbreak in Charleston, standing feet way from the Emanuel AME Church.
Awesome, can we interrupt every news live cross from now on. It would quickly make the media look pretty stupid and show them as the sellouts that they are.
These ‘upgrades’ are largely already paid for and shouldn’t require an increase in charges. That’s what depreciation is for but instead of using depreciation funds to replace deteriorating assets the Govt has been looting the fund for special dividends.
Hi ianmac, re is there a present…?
I would venture there is only the present and that the past and future are both fictions.
Btw, slightly related: the past, present and future walk into a bar. It was tense.
Heh gsays. That moment of tension for the punchline. Great!
But if there was no present then you have to find another to make up the classical three.
Perhaps: The past, god, and the future walked into a bar. The god said, “Don’t worry. I will take care of this.” Huh?
An interesting blog by Bryan Gould, but quite thin on suggestions for improvement or change, rather.
It seems that the take-home message is that young (?) enthusiastic, motivated wannabe-politicians lose their way and get caught up in the daily grind of party politics. This means fighting a daily battle for survival in getting noticed, gaining influence, power, and control and other such individualistic pursuits. That a socialist party such as LPNZ suffers from this more, it seems, than National is perhaps because the latter is all about the pursuit of individualism and personal interest over and above collectivism and compassion for fellow Kiwis.
Politics is, or should be, a team effort. Do aspiring politicians really enter the fray thinking that only they can make a difference through their unique and personal actions or do they think that they can make a useful contribution to the collective efforts of many for the betterment of society?
The self-selection of practising politicians is not really any different than of leaders in general. However, if this selection process does not result in the desired outcomes for the collective (e.g. company, political party, etc.) then the rule book needs to be re-written. In other words, the party needs to change its selection process and internal governance. No party should be subject to the personal whims of its leader(s); it always ends up in tears.
An interesting blog by Bryan Gould, but quite thin on suggestions for improvement or change, rather.
There’s a massive cultural change required within UK Labour (and NZ Labour), and it’s virtually impossible to accomplish. There are quite literally, no means of accomplishing the change that is required to survive as an independent modern political force.
That’s quite a devastating verdict! I don’t believe in Doom’s Day thinking or fatalism; there always is a choice, how unpalatable it may be. The alternative is too bad to contemplate, and not just for Labour.
Do you know what the antidote is for the increasing hegemony of individualism? It is not the Vulcan mind meld (and definitely like the Borg) but the human equivalent of that.
Ok, so it seems every week at the moment there is major flooding in Wellington, Dunedin, West Coast, and now lower North Island (I’ve probably missed out some places too). I can’t remember experiencing a period like this where regional weather emergencies have come in quick succession, although my memory doesn’t go back very far. If this is just the entree to global warming, when does the cost of these disruptions make us think about changing our lifestyles, transport methods and the industrialised world we live in? Can money always be found to repair roads, bridges, clean flooded properties, and the continuation with the status quo?
I think Chch has shown us that money/resources are not always there.
I’ve been thinking about the increase in jobs needed going forward (as a counterpoint to the automation will remove most jobs thing). Obviously emergency workers and road workers will be in high demand. Prep consultants too.
I was impressed with one of the flood reports in Hokitika where they fixed a washed out piece of road the next day. I was also impressed by the local council’s response. When they were heading into the second night, the woman on RNZ (don’t know if she was council or CD) said the council had assigned extra staff and phones would be manned through the night. Came across way better than the DCC managed. Reassuring that some parts of NZ still know how to do it.
Most surface water I’ve seen in >22 years but the rain stopped an hour ago although a 1.00am high tide means the stop banks banks are still vulnerable.
I like this bit of Lord Ashdown’s comment: He told the Guardian it was time to end the fractures on the left: “As we – all of us on the left and centre-left – survey the wreckage around us after the last election, we should ask ourselves this question: is this the moment for us to retreat into tribalism, as we always do? My answer to that question is ‘no’.
“There is much we disagree about, but there is more that we agree on. The environment, civil liberties, internationalism; how to build a strong economy within the context of a fair society; how to devolve power to our nations and communities in a way which preserves our national unity, not threatens it; the need to tackle the intolerable gap of inequality which will soon threaten our social cohesion as well as our economic success.
Makes me feel all warm inside. Just what I need on a winter’s day. Get on the bus NZ Labour. There is a strap waiting for you to hang on to.
Braindead sports announcers are an insult to sports fans
Television One News, Saturday 20 June 2015
If you thought that sports commentary could only improve following the enforced departure of Martin “Moron” Devlin and the long overdue retirement of Murray “The Screaming Skull” Deaker, you were wrong. Devlin and Deaker are unpleasant memories, thankfully, but their legacy of shoddiness and rank stupidity has continued.
On TV One News tonight, Jenny-May Coffin burbled that she was looking forward to “the footy in Dunners tonight.” What she meant to say, of course, was “the football in Dunedin tonight.”
The other morning, Paul Henry’s beleaguered and harried sports jock Jim Kayes was similarly tongue-tied, using the puerile term “footy” when previewing (inexpertly) the same match. Prime’s gruesome and unfunny twosome of Mark Richardson and Andrew Mulligan also seem unable or afraid to pronounce the word “football”, as does their co-host Hayley Holt. Over on NewstalkZB, the physically fit but irretrievably dim triathlete Mark Watson and that renowned exponent of footwork, Tony Veitch, repeatedly employ the puerilism, as does Kathryn Ryan on National Radio.
I know that the sports department is the shallow end of the gene pool, but the stupidity and/or timidity of New Zealand sports-casters seems to be almost limitless.
“Without any significant doubt that we are now entering the sixth great mass extinction event,” said Professor Paul Ehrlich, at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.
“Species are disappearing up to about 100 times faster than the normal rate between mass extinctions, known as the background rate.
So, there you have it – we have actually entered the first anthropogenic extinction event…
“If it is allowed to continue, life would take many millions of years to recover, and our species itself would likely disappear early on,” said lead author Gerardo Ceballos of the Universidad Autónoma de México.
Professor Ehrlich said that government must start working together to conserve threatened species.
And we’re at the top of the list for being driven to extinction.
Just listening to a Derrick Jensen interview where he talks about environmentalists work as like putting bandages on a patient who is bleeding out from being stabbed by someone. He says it’s all good work, the problem is that while they’re bandaging the patient, the victim is still being stabbed. @ 17:10 in this 1 hour long radio interview http://prn.fm/nature-bats-last-05-19-15/
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes – Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
The Fast-track Bill, if passed, would allow three Ministers, unchallenged and unchecked, to approve the immediate extraction and exhaustion of one-off resources. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne iamharin/Shutterstock For many people, the term “bulk billed” refers to a GP visit they don’t have to pay ...
Emmas Hislop, Sidnam and Wehipeihana discuss what’s in a name. Emma Sidnam: Hello Emmas! Thank you so much for agreeing to do this with me. My first question for you is related to what’s been on my mind for a while. It’s very important. You see we’ve recently had some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Sievers, Research Fellow, Global Wetlands Project, Australia Rivers Institute, Griffith University Chris Brown Humans love the coast. But we love it to death, so much so we’ve destroyed valuable coastal habitat – in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he can’t stop singing, the beauty of The Simpsons, why Jersey Shore is as good as Shakespeare and more. For someone who spends a lot of time on our screens, popping up in everything from 7 Days to Taskmaster, Educators to Good ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didn’t find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. “I thought, ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
The government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...
Raglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...
Residents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously.The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...
New Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...
The thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...
Opinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Opinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Hineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...
If you aren’t working this weekend, or even if you are, chances are you’ll waste some of your hard-earned on something you’ll wish you hadn’t. It’s not very optimistic is it? Don’t worry, it’s not a reflection on you personally, happens to everyone not just grumpy old guys in fedora hats*. It’s a sign of the times. It was simply a piece of crap…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovum-GjYWKQ
Feel free to share your most frustrating crappy purchases, expensive attempts at saving the trees, the whales or anything else well-meaning, or alternatively, that one item you bought at a discount store that still works really well, always did, and now you want another and can’t find it anywhere.
*Did you know that the fedora hat was a symbol adopted and worn by American Women’s Rights movement in the late 1880’s? I didn’t.
Haven’t had a crappy purchase in awhile, I always buy quality stuff, but I’ve had quite a few purchases where I got it and it didn’t quite do what I wanted it to do.
Because most of them are from overseas, I never send them back as the cost doesn’t make it worthwhile.
From The Guardian Australia under the heading “Australian police and policing”……
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jun/04/police-officer-found-not-guilty-of-assault-after-pushing-73-year-old-to-ground
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jun/19/gold-coast-police-officer-faces-jail-for-allegedly-leaking-film-of-police-assault
Pretty awful North.
I remember despairing when seeing a documentary on the guy who became a billionaire from coming up with the idea of those silly rubber bracelets that charities seemed to be pushing all over the place for a while.
Here’s one way of dealing with the nonsense that is consumerism or is he buying into it?
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/26/world/europe/Friedrich-Liechtenstein-supergeil-germany.html?_r=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxVcgDMBU94
those silly rubber bracelets…
livestrong courtesy of that athelete of integrty Lance Armstrong
Its an ad for a supermarket chain.
You need to read the article that goes with it.
Excerpt
“During the week, he wandered down in his pajamas to have coffee with the employees as they arrived; after hours, and on weekends, he had the whole space to himself. He slept on plastic crates in a breezeway; his minimal possessions included a silver candlestick and a peach-colored satin vest from Japan. “A lot of things you think you need, you don’t,” he said. “I learned all I really need is a bed, a table, nice friends and something to eat.”
He stayed for more than a year, and things began to look up. “It was winter,” he said, “and I went outside. I said, ‘World, I’m immortal. I’ll always exist. But you only exist because I see you. If you don’t give me anything, I won’t give you anything.’ ”
“… while serving in the military, Mr. Liechtenstein decided to switch careers, because he was unable to keep his personal area tidy.”
haha would that have made it a dishonorable discharge?
Ecuador: Media lies about Correa’s free-speech record
by CHRISTIAN TYM, 21 July 2013
– See more at: https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54573#sthash.3qOJOhP6.dpuf
When Ecuador granted asylum to Assange in mid-2012, the Sydney Morning Herald’s Peter Hartcher accused Assange of “hypocrisy” for accepting asylum from President Rafael Correa, “one of the world’s leading oppressors of free speech”.
Annabel Crabb joined in, writing in the SMH: “A gazillion Assange Twitter fans [hailed] Ecuador and its president, Rafael Correa, as a hero of international free speech and human rights. Correa is the same guy who last year jailed a journalist and three executives from the newspaper El Universal [sic] for saying nasty things about him …[and] is expected to soon extradite the Belorussian anti-corruption campaigner Alexander Barankov to a messy fate in his country of birth … Ecuador: champion of free speech. The mind boggles.”
The only factual errors in Crabb’s rant are that Barankov was never extradited (but granted asylum), the journalist and executives mentioned were never jailed and the newspaper is not called El Universal!
It might read like a snide put-down of poorer nations that are somehow less capable of “democracy”, but all SMH did was read from an extensive, Washington-penned playbook on how to denounce the Latin American left.
The El Universo Case
The US press had been practising their denunciations of late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez’s so-called “dictatorship” in Venezuela for years before turning their attention to Correa. After granting Assange asylum, Correa went to the top of the hit-list.
The Washington Post, New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, The Economist, and Time each ran nearly identical articles on Correa’s supposed repression of free media.
And each placed the same victim at centre-stage: El Universo.
The saga stems from an article published by El Universo on February 5, 2011, written by Emilio Palacio and titled “No to the Lies”. The paper was then sued for libel by Correa.
The article gave Palacio’s account of the dramatic events on September 30, 2010, when Correa was held hostage by rebellious police inside a military hospital for nine hours. ……
Read more if you’re serious….
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54573
Now that’s an interesting way to do it and I can see why the corporates are screaming blue murder about it. It’s taken any possible dominance of the narrative away from them.
Science dude* on Kim Hill is calling the government’s science policies Stalinist (because they control what science gets done and how it gets done).
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday
*Professor Russell Gray, FRSNZ, is the Director of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany.
Ah, “science man”:
https://youtu.be/NvpbW7JRu0Q?t=130
I put it to a science man that there is no present. There is a past and a future but at this moment we are already moving into the past. He started to give me his opinion but we were interrupted and of course the moment was lost as it shot into the past. Wonder if Philomena could find out if there is a present?
Today has been one of her best line-ups EVER
Have a read of some awards handed out to UK businesses… and as you read maybe think about the recent announcement of investor backed programmes for getting those with mental illness into work… and why any society would be lading such behaviour unless they seek to perpetuate it.
https://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2015/06/17/priti-patel-hands-award-to-poverty-pay-employer-that-pays-just-2-68-an-hour/
and then there is this “journalistic” behaviour which put me in mind of Rachel Glucina…and Amanda Bailey
appalling stuff
https://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2015/06/15/how-the-benefit-lies-begin-claimants-offered-cash-and-fame-to-say-they-dont-want-jobs/
Award winning journalist banned from putting questions to crime commissioner in the UK… must submit her questions via their OIA.
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/award-winning-investigative-journalist-banned-putting-questinos-birmingham-crime-commissioner
Ports of Auckland and the Super City Council have stuffed up big time on the wharves.
http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/auckland-council-loses-battle-over-port-2015061918#axzz3dYGw39nw
Highly predictable decision by the High Court to set aside the original resource consents causing an immediate halt to the one wharf construction now in progress through the shonky POA/Council “compromise” deal.
Who on earth was giving legal advice to Council that this could proceed non-notified? Council needs to get new lawyers. $500,000 down the drain on this case alone-I wonder how many dollars have been wasted by these lawyers in other futile legal cases?
J A Farmer QC, D A Nolan, M R Crotty and K M Dunn for
Second Respondent (POA)
Jim ($1000 per hour) Farmer
and Russell McVeagh
Nothing but the most expensive for the POA…
Russell MCveagh are the biggest and most expensive but not to be mistaken for the best. Remember them in the stoush with IRD over the shonky bloodstock and fllm deals? They will spend your money trying to argue what you want them to though.
Council paid
A R Galbraith QC,
A M Adams and J C Campbell for First
Respondent
Yep, I remember the bloodstock deals, lots of lawyers also lost out on that one. Another dodgy Russell McVeagh deal.
Yep, thanks Auckland Council dimwits – I’m so pleased my rates are going up, so I can pay expensive lawyers to defend ports of Auckland stealing our harbour.
Next time they say we can’t afford pools or libraries, remember where the rates are really going. Environmental barristers of course! Just a wink and a nudge to the COO and resource consent officers and the consents just fly through!
exactly… 2 high paid QC’s plus their overpaid law firms… no change out of half a million is my guess… needs a LGOIMA on council, i doubt the POA will have to disclose other than as part of their overall yearly legal spend.
But are their any investigative journalists left?
Someone should do a thorough LGOIMA search and include the CEO, councillors, resource consent officers and related barristers.
Remember what the OIA revealed on the human rights department with Susan Devoy being instructed not to answer the phone. Big Brother.
God knows what these council and related resource consents people are up to with our ratepayer money.
Not legal by the ruling anyway, but anyone with a brain cell should have worked that out.
The scary thing, is the Ports of Auckland and the Council only got caught out, because an action group paid a lot of money to oppose it, councillors were being silenced, people being bullied, and what is happening in our city, where their is not the publicity and money available?
Not even a 500 year old Kauri or a public asset like our wharf is safe from these privatisers.
+100
The Council CEO and Mayor should be taken over the coals for this one, and yes there should be a request for how much litigation on resource consents is going on especially in Auckland, because the council resource consent officers are approving practically EVERY consent, and also the ratepayers are being forced to pay council lawyers hundreds of thousands of dollars of ratepayers money for the council to defend consents from the affected public (who at great expense are needlessly forced into the fray when some stupid council decision affects them is granted) which should never have been granted in the first place.
Someone should check what a ‘growth’ industry this is, for those environmental barristers creaming the teat of rate payer money to defend bad decisions of the council.
The fact the mayor and CEO seems to believe that the resource consent officers acted appropriately against any logical conclusion that the average rate payer could have foreseen, shows how stupid and out of touch they are.
And the fact that the CEO has lost control of ports of Auckland who they own shows just how out of kilter Ports of Auckland board is, with such a pathetic governance to them and how greedy and stupid they all are.
Next time you pay your rates think how much of this went on the council lawyers and how they probably will not even fire anyone in the resource consents department who’s job this clearly was or anyone from the ports of Auckland Board, and how the council seems to be encouraging stupid consents and destroying Auckland amenity as well as enriching themselves in the process.
The public needs to demand accountability!
Just to remember who actually stood up for Auckland’s on the council
GUEST BLOG: Mike Lee – Len Brown must stop Ports of Auckland – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/03/25/guest-blog-mike-lee-len-brown-must-stop-ports-of-auckland/#sthash.gfjoQORY.dpuf
and the council response
GUEST BLOG: Auckland Council attack Mike Lee’s defence of Auckland Harbour – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/03/26/guest-blog-auckland-council-attack-mike-lees-defence-of-auckland-harbour/#sthash.mGPX0OW7.dpuf
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/03/27/guest-blog-mike-lee-responding-to-auckland-councils-criticism-of-blog/
Of course another big question is Will ports of Auckland continue to waste Ratepayers money by pursuing this. and can Auckland Council actually do it’s job and control Ports of Auckland on something clearly extremely unpopular to Auckland Rate payers?
mind you then there is Mike Lee single handedly preventing the waterfront stadium and sentencing aucklanders to underwriting eden park for another 20 years.
Sentencing, nice one!
Well we all know the government wants us back in the 1900’s now we know Auckland Council wants the ratepayers in the poor house as part of the 1900’s industrial revolution.
I’m looking forward for Coal to make a come back in our streets.
Horse and carts can replace public transport, or maybe Browns idea of going to Michael Bloomberg and begging for funds for our transport…. note to Len, not only is that is what YOU and the council is paid for to provide public transport, an our rates could be spent on this, not defending stupid illegal council decisions.
It seems, like Murray’s, Saudi’s sheep exports, the idea is not to provide for ourselves but to bribe some overseas person to ‘solve’ our problems all turning to custard of course and getting nothing done.
Maybe the right wingers should take self sufficiency and self reliance a bit more seriously, they have no problem telling the poor how to do it.
“Uncle Tom? Hello?”:
Shouting Woman Interrupts Don Lemon in Charleston
As CNN’s John Berman and Don Lemon reported live earlier today in Charleston on last night’s shooting, a woman interrupted the broadcast to set a few things straight. “We’re mad! We’re angry! Tell the truth!” she said as Berman launched into a report about the heartbreak in Charleston, standing feet way from the Emanuel AME Church.
See more…
http://morningafter.gawker.com/uncle-tom-hello-shouting-woman-interrupts-don-lemo-1712369858
Awesome, can we interrupt every news live cross from now on. It would quickly make the media look pretty stupid and show them as the sellouts that they are.
I see the provinces are being stitched up again….
“Northlanders face $300 power hike”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11468137
These ‘upgrades’ are largely already paid for and shouldn’t require an increase in charges. That’s what depreciation is for but instead of using depreciation funds to replace deteriorating assets the Govt has been looting the fund for special dividends.
Yep, stealing from the poor to enrich the rich power companies…
Wonder how the cost of living keeps going up, yet power, banks, etc making massive profits….
Ah, the inevitable result of privatisation and the faux market to always produce profits that go to the rich.
Those profits have to come from somewhere and that somewhere happens to be the poor. The richer the rich are the greater the poverty we have is.
Hi ianmac, re is there a present…?
I would venture there is only the present and that the past and future are both fictions.
Btw, slightly related: the past, present and future walk into a bar. It was tense.
Heh gsays. That moment of tension for the punchline. Great!
But if there was no present then you have to find another to make up the classical three.
Perhaps: The past, god, and the future walked into a bar. The god said, “Don’t worry. I will take care of this.” Huh?
well done!
Remove John Key from power
https://www.change.org/p/people-of-nz-new-zealand-kiwis-remove-john-key-from-power
Why Are Labour’s Would-be Leaders So Right-wing?
http://www.bryangould.com/why-are-labours-would-be-leaders-so-right-wing/
Bryan Gould’s latest piece.
Apologies if this has already been posted.
Am slowly catching up with reading online stuff this arvo.
An interesting blog by Bryan Gould, but quite thin on suggestions for improvement or change, rather.
It seems that the take-home message is that young (?) enthusiastic, motivated wannabe-politicians lose their way and get caught up in the daily grind of party politics. This means fighting a daily battle for survival in getting noticed, gaining influence, power, and control and other such individualistic pursuits. That a socialist party such as LPNZ suffers from this more, it seems, than National is perhaps because the latter is all about the pursuit of individualism and personal interest over and above collectivism and compassion for fellow Kiwis.
Politics is, or should be, a team effort. Do aspiring politicians really enter the fray thinking that only they can make a difference through their unique and personal actions or do they think that they can make a useful contribution to the collective efforts of many for the betterment of society?
The self-selection of practising politicians is not really any different than of leaders in general. However, if this selection process does not result in the desired outcomes for the collective (e.g. company, political party, etc.) then the rule book needs to be re-written. In other words, the party needs to change its selection process and internal governance. No party should be subject to the personal whims of its leader(s); it always ends up in tears.
There’s a massive cultural change required within UK Labour (and NZ Labour), and it’s virtually impossible to accomplish. There are quite literally, no means of accomplishing the change that is required to survive as an independent modern political force.
That’s quite a devastating verdict! I don’t believe in Doom’s Day thinking or fatalism; there always is a choice, how unpalatable it may be. The alternative is too bad to contemplate, and not just for Labour.
Do you know what the antidote is for the increasing hegemony of individualism? It is not the Vulcan mind meld (and definitely like the Borg) but the human equivalent of that.
Ok, so it seems every week at the moment there is major flooding in Wellington, Dunedin, West Coast, and now lower North Island (I’ve probably missed out some places too). I can’t remember experiencing a period like this where regional weather emergencies have come in quick succession, although my memory doesn’t go back very far. If this is just the entree to global warming, when does the cost of these disruptions make us think about changing our lifestyles, transport methods and the industrialised world we live in? Can money always be found to repair roads, bridges, clean flooded properties, and the continuation with the status quo?
I think Chch has shown us that money/resources are not always there.
I’ve been thinking about the increase in jobs needed going forward (as a counterpoint to the automation will remove most jobs thing). Obviously emergency workers and road workers will be in high demand. Prep consultants too.
I was impressed with one of the flood reports in Hokitika where they fixed a washed out piece of road the next day. I was also impressed by the local council’s response. When they were heading into the second night, the woman on RNZ (don’t know if she was council or CD) said the council had assigned extra staff and phones would be manned through the night. Came across way better than the DCC managed. Reassuring that some parts of NZ still know how to do it.
A civil defense emergency has been declared in Whanganui/Rangitikei,
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/state-highway-one-bridge-damaged-by-flooding/#.VYTzJyekrGc.twitter
Geez, that’s pretty much caused an emergency in most major towns from Kapiti to New Plymouth on the west coast.
Most surface water I’ve seen in >22 years but the rain stopped an hour ago although a 1.00am high tide means the stop banks banks are still vulnerable.
Lovely day.
http://tropic.ssec.wisc.edu/real-time/austeast/movies/gmsirn/gmsirnjava.html
edit: my friend the evacuee has arrived with the cat
And just like to mention breaking the law is nothing new for Ports of Auckland.
Ports of Auckland has been ordered to pay $40,000 for deliberately breaking the law by employing contractors during industrial action at the port.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10853815
Also interesting perspective from Rod Oram on Ports of Auckland Conduct prior to the finding…
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2514727/business-with-rod-oram
Lord Ashdown says progressive parties should convene to decide joint agenda
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/19/lord-ashdown-progressive-parties-in-britain-should-work-together
I like this bit of Lord Ashdown’s comment:
He told the Guardian it was time to end the fractures on the left: “As we – all of us on the left and centre-left – survey the wreckage around us after the last election, we should ask ourselves this question: is this the moment for us to retreat into tribalism, as we always do? My answer to that question is ‘no’.
“There is much we disagree about, but there is more that we agree on. The environment, civil liberties, internationalism; how to build a strong economy within the context of a fair society; how to devolve power to our nations and communities in a way which preserves our national unity, not threatens it; the need to tackle the intolerable gap of inequality which will soon threaten our social cohesion as well as our economic success.
Makes me feel all warm inside. Just what I need on a winter’s day. Get on the bus NZ Labour. There is a strap waiting for you to hang on to.
Ignorant churnalist manages to file two stories about Judith Collins in one day.
“The Weekend Herald spoke to Ms Collins and her National Party colleagues about her increased profile in the media in recent weeks.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11468222
“Collins has been talking about Collins everywhere.
…
National MPs have a number of theories for Collins’ media splurge. Her own answer to this is short and simple: “Because [the media] ask me to.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11468068
Gee, I wonder who is giving her oxygen ..
Braindead sports announcers are an insult to sports fans
Television One News, Saturday 20 June 2015
If you thought that sports commentary could only improve following the enforced departure of Martin “Moron” Devlin and the long overdue retirement of Murray “The Screaming Skull” Deaker, you were wrong. Devlin and Deaker are unpleasant memories, thankfully, but their legacy of shoddiness and rank stupidity has continued.
On TV One News tonight, Jenny-May Coffin burbled that she was looking forward to “the footy in Dunners tonight.” What she meant to say, of course, was “the football in Dunedin tonight.”
The other morning, Paul Henry’s beleaguered and harried sports jock Jim Kayes was similarly tongue-tied, using the puerile term “footy” when previewing (inexpertly) the same match. Prime’s gruesome and unfunny twosome of Mark Richardson and Andrew Mulligan also seem unable or afraid to pronounce the word “football”, as does their co-host Hayley Holt. Over on NewstalkZB, the physically fit but irretrievably dim triathlete Mark Watson and that renowned exponent of footwork, Tony Veitch, repeatedly employ the puerilism, as does Kathryn Ryan on National Radio.
I know that the sports department is the shallow end of the gene pool, but the stupidity and/or timidity of New Zealand sports-casters seems to be almost limitless.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
While Jenny-May Coffin may be too dumb to pronounce the word “football”, she does have some talent; she’s an absolute champion when it comes to doing push-ups…..
http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/jenny-may-coffin-s-handstand-push-up-video-4831975
Earth has entered sixth mass extinction, warn scientists
So, there you have it – we have actually entered the first anthropogenic extinction event…
And we’re at the top of the list for being driven to extinction.
Just listening to a Derrick Jensen interview where he talks about environmentalists work as like putting bandages on a patient who is bleeding out from being stabbed by someone. He says it’s all good work, the problem is that while they’re bandaging the patient, the victim is still being stabbed. @ 17:10 in this 1 hour long radio interview http://prn.fm/nature-bats-last-05-19-15/
Economic viewpoint difference?
http://neweconomicperspectives.org/2015/06/the-imf-defense-of-it-actions-against-the-greeks-is-an-unintended-confession.html
and
http://ineteconomics.org/ideas-papers/blog/greece-has-made-tough-choices-now-its-the-imfs-turn by James K. Galbraith
and
http://ineteconomics.org/ideas-papers/blog/bankers-think-they-have-an-ethical-duty-to-steal-from-taxpayers
and
http://ineteconomics.org/ideas-papers/blog/why-this-time-is-different-for-ukraine